.Southern PDP Leaders Reject Gov. Diri’s Lagos Meeting
By Ismail Shuaib
ABUJA: A fresh round of internal strife is unfolding in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP as the debate over zoning ahead of the 2027 general elections continues to polarize its southern leaders.
A group of influential stakeholders from Southern Nigeria—including state chairmen, former governors, serving and past National Assembly members, as well as current and former members of the National Working Committee NWC—have denounced a zoning consultative meeting convened in Lagos by Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
The aggrieved leaders described the Lagos gathering slated for today, tagged the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” as “illegal, exclusionary and unrepresentative” of the interests of the party in the South.
They argued that any decision reached without broad consultation cannot be binding on members of the party.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the state chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers—Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, Venatius Ikem, Aniekan Akpan, and Aaron Chukwuemeka—along with other prominent figures such as the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. O. K. Chinda, distanced themselves from the meeting.
Also signing the statement were Senators Igwe Nwagu, Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Ama Nnachi, as well as former National Secretary, Onwe S. Onwe, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha and other notable party chieftains.
The statement, titled “Re: Purported Meeting of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” faulted the conveners for failing to involve critical party officers, including elected state chairmen, national officers, and ranking lawmakers.
The stakeholders alleged that the meeting was designed to serve the “selfish interests of a select few” rather than the broader aspirations of the party.
They expressed particular concern over what they called the “deliberate exclusion” of serving lawmakers, former governors and principal officers of the party in the South-East and South-South, describing the move as a dangerous deviation from the PDP’s long-standing culture of inclusivity and consultation.
“The PDP has always been anchored on fairness, equity, and collective decision-making. Any process that sidelines key stakeholders and disregards established party structures undermines trust, breeds division, and threatens the cohesion of our party at a critical time”, they said.
The leaders dismissed in advance any resolutions or communiqué emanating from the Lagos meeting, insisting they would not be binding on PDP members in Southern Nigeria.
They further reminded party members that the zoning committee set up by the National Executive Committee NEC was yet to submit its report, stressing that any pre-emptive summit was both “premature and self-serving.”
Reaffirming their loyalty to the party, the southern leaders pledged to defend its unity and electoral prospects ahead of 2027.
They urged the National Working Committee and the NEC to disregard the Lagos parley and warned that they would take “all necessary steps in line with the party’s constitution” should any recognition be accorded to its outcome.
